Jack.



L. P. BONALY.

JACK.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

THE NORRIS PETERS 60., PHO1'O-L|THD.. WASHINGTON, D. c

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

L. F. BONALY.

JACK.

APPLICATION FILED MAYE, 191s 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ag ""l:

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

THE NORRIS PE7ER5 60., PHoraun-lo,v WASHINGTON u, C.

era

JACK.

Application filed May 5, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Louis F. BONALY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Kickapoo township, in the county of Leavenworth and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Jacks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic jacks and supports in which a vehicle when run upon the jack will be automatically raised and rocked to dispose the vehicle with its wheels lifted ofi the ground, the vehicle being supported by means of its axles bearing directly upon the frame of the jack.

Another purpose of the invention is to produce a rocking or tilting support provided with means for holding the same in a normally inclined position and with means adapted to be operated automatically by the vehicle for tripping said means whereupon the support will be rocked by the vehicle into a horizontal position.

A further object is to devise an apparatus having means for securely locking the same when not in use, this means being arranged to be tripped by the vehicle when run upon the jack as well as for manual operation to rerock the frame to initial or inclined position for backing the vehicle 0d the apparatus.

l/Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel and peculiar features of construction and organization as hereinafter described and claimed, and to afford a complete understanding of the same, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a side elevation of my apparatus shown in receiving position. Fig. 2, is a plan view of the same, Fig. 3, is a side elevation of the device with the vehicle wheels represented in dotted lines and with the safety lever thrown preparatory to tripping the means which supports the tilting frame in normally inclined or receiving position. Fig. 4, is a similar view showing the position of the parts with the supporting means for the tilting frame having been tripped. Fig. 5, is an end view with the parts in the same position as illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 6, is a perspective v1ew of one of the guide plates for the locking bars.

Referring to the drawings, the bed frame of the device, which is designed to rest upon the floor of a barn or garage, comprises a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 86, Mitt").

Serial No. 765,492.

pair of longitudinal or side bars 2 and pair of end cross bars 4: and 6 secured together in any suitable manner as by angle strips 8 and screws 10. The side bars 2 are preferably supported in a slightly inclined position with their rear ends upon the floor and their front ends resting upon blocks 12. The bed frame is provided with a pair of runways let supported at a greater angle than the bars 2 with their rear ends upon the floor and their front ends supported upon a cross bar 16 secured to the side bars 2. The runways are also supported intermediate their ends upon short strips 18 extending from the side bars 2.

The cross bar 16 is spaced from the front ends of the bars 2 so that the runways terminate short of the front end of the bed frame.

A tilting or rocking frame is arranged above the bed frame and corresponds thereto in general form, being made up of two side bars 20 of shorter length than the side bars 2 and of an end bar 22 and an end piece 24:, the latter being secured upon the rear ends of the bars 20 and presenting a broad bearing surface for the rear end of the vehicle. In the case of a motor vehicle the part received upon this end strip 24: will usually be the differential casing indicated at 25, which to secure the most satisfactory results would probably be sufficiently large to be supported by the strip 21 against lateral rocking. The end bar 22 will be secured to the bars 20 by angle strips 8 and screws 10 as in the case of the bed frame, or in any preferred manner.

The side bars 20 are pivoted intermediate their length upon pins or bolts 26, mounted in the upper portions of a bracket 28 extending between and having its lower portion pivoted to the side bars 2 by means of bolts 30. Embracing the outer sides of the bars 2 and 20 are plates 32 which are held on the bolts 26 and 30 by nuts 34:.

At their rear ends the side bars 20 are pivotally connected to a pair of braces 36 which extend forward between the bracket 28 and plates 32 beneath the bolts 26 and are pivoted at their front ends upon the side bars 2. The tilting frame is designed to be rocked by the vehicle upon the bolts 26 to approximately horizontal position, at which time the front ends of the bars 20 will be supported on buffers 38 carried by posts 40 mounted on the bed frame.

For supporting the tilting frame in its inclined position above the bed frame, two pairs of toggle links 42 are provided at the front end of the frame at opposite sides thereof, each pair being connected at one end to one of the side bars 2 and at its other end to the overhanging side bar 20, one link of each pair being equipped with a lug 44 to limit the expanding movement of the toggle. Each toggle joint is provided with a locking bar 46 extending rearward through a slotted plate 48 mounted on bar 16, this bar 16 being suitably recessed to permit the bars 46 to operate within the slots of the plates 48. Each bar 46 has a shoulder 50 designed when the tilting frame is inclined to engage the lower end of the slot of the corresponding plate 48 and thus maintain the toggles expanded.

For further supporting the tilting frame and locking the same when not in use an additional toggle arrangement is provided between the front ends of the tilting and bed frames. This device comprises a toggle link 52 pivoted at one end to the end bar 22 and at its other end to an arm 54 of a lever 56, the arm 54 forming the other member of the toggle. The lever 56 is pivoted upon a plate 58 carried by the cross bar 6, and extends laterally beyond the side of the bed frame in convenient position for operation When this lever is lowered in the position shown in Figs; 1 and 5, the toggle members 52 and 54 are straightened thereby withdrawing the shoulders 50 of the bars. 46 slightly from engagement with the plates 48 and the tilting frame is locked against use until the lever 56 has. been operated by hand or by mechanism now to be described.

One'of the posts 40 carries a pivoted dog 60 having one portion thereof extending forward in position to engage the lever 56. Pivoted to this dog and depending there from is a link 62, the lower end of which is connected to the rearwardly extending link 64 pivoted to the adjacent runway 14. When the tripping end of the dog is lowered to permit lowering of the lever 56 to straighten the toggle members 52-54, the link 64 is raised above the surface of the runway so as to engage and lift a hinge plate 66 mounted on said runway 14 and provided with a lug 68 for engagement by said link 64. From this arrangement it will be apparent that as a vehicle wheel travels over the plate 66 as shown in Fig. 3, the plate will be depressed and thereby operate through the links 64 and 62 to raise the tripping end of the dog, thus raislng the lever 56 and breaking the toggle 5254. The tilting frame is now unlocked for the rocking thereof under the weight of the front end of the vehicle after the bars 46 have been tripped by mechanism now to be described.

Within the space inclosed by the tilting frame is mounted a frame 70 secured to the side bars 20 and supporting a pair of bars 72 constituting a track for a slide block 74. The block is equipped with rollers 78 traveling on the track bars 72 and with a pair of lugs 80 extending upward in position to be engaged by the front axle of the vehicle as indicated at 82. The front face of the block 74 is adapted to engage an upwardly extending arm 84 designed to operate a rock shaft 86 journaled upon the side bars 2 of the bed frame. The opposite ends of this shaft 86 are provided with crank arms 88 inturned for. engagement with the undersides of the locking bars 46. Consequently as the block is moved forward and throws the arm 84 the crank arms. 88 lift the locking bars and release the shoulders 50 from locking engagement. with the plates 48 so that thereafter the bars 46 are free to move rearward as the attached toggles collapse due to the lowering of the front end of the tilting frame under the weight of the front portion of the vehicle.

From the foregoing the operation of the apparatus will now be clearly understood. As the vehicle rides up the runways 14 with the parts positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1, the. plate 66 is depressed with the result that the lever 56 is raised to break the toggle 5254 as shown in. Fig. 3, thereby slightly lowering the tilting frame with the shoulders 50 of the locking bars 46 in locking engagement with the plates 48 so that this further locking mechanism will remain in effective operation until the front wheels of the vehicle have traveled a suflicient distance to fully clear the run-ways 14. After tripping the lever 56, the vehicle moves with its front axle engaged with the slide block 74 from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, and by the time the slide block reaches the latter position it will have thrown the arm 84 sufliciently to trip the locking bars 46, leaving the tilting frame free to move under the weight of the car into horizontal position as shown in Fig. 4. In this connection it will be noted that whether the power is shut down entirely or not the car will move forward under the power of its engine or under momentum after the power is cut off until its front wheels are off the runways, when the weight of the front end of the car is imposed upon the block 74 in which position the greater portion of the cars weight is forward of the pivotal points of the tilting frame. This results in the rocking of the frame upon its pivots and bringing its end piece 24 into action for lifting the rear end of the vehicle off the runways, the front end of the tilting frame coming to rest upon the buffers 38. Forward movement of the car is now of course impossible regardless of whether the power was shut down or not, since the tractive force of the rear wheels is lost.

When it is desired to back the vehicle oh the frame, the lever 56 will be lowered to straighten the toggle 52-54 which raises the tilting frame sufficiently to bring the rear wheels of the vehicle down upon the runways whereupon the car may be driven backward off the frame. Ihe raising of the tilting frame by the operation of lever 56 likewise tends to straighten the toggles 42 so as to draw the bars 46 into position to relock. At the same time that the vehicle runsoff the frame the slide block 74 runs back down the track 72 into position to receive the front axle of the car when again run upon the apparatus, it being understood that the form and proportions of the parts carried by the rock shaft 86 will be such as to retain the slide block normally at the lower end of the inclined track 72.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have produced an automatic jack embodying the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the object of the invention, and while the above represents one embodiment of the same, I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction and arrangement shown, but reserve the right to such changes and modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim- 1. In an apparatus of the character described, a vehicle supporting frame, a support upon which said frame is pivoted, means for retaining said frame normally in inclined position, and means adapted to be operated by a vehicle moving over said frame to trip said retaining means to allow the frame to move into horizontal position under the weight of the vehicle received upon the upper end of the frame, said frame being arranged within the path of travel of the vehicle wheels so as to engage the vehicle frame and, in moving into horizontal position, to remove the weight of said vehicle frame from the wheels.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a vehicle supporting frame, a support upon which said frame is pivoted, means for retaining said frame normally in inclined position, means adapted to be operated by a vehicle moving over the frame to trip said retaining means to allow the frame to move into horizontal position under the weight of the vehicle received upon the upper end of the frame, said frame being located in position to engage the vehicle frame and adapted, in moving into horizontal position, to remove the weight of said vehicle frame from the wheels, and stops located in position to limit the movement of the tilting frame into horizontal position.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a vehicle supporting frame, a support upon which said frame is pivoted intermediate its ends, means for retaining said frame normally in inclined position, run ways at opposite sides and terminating short of the upper end of said pivoted frame, and means adapted to be operated by a vehicle moving over said frame to trip said retaining means to allow the frame to move into 75 horizontal position under the weight of the vehicle received upon the upper end of the frame after the front wheels have passed off the runways, whereby the rear end of the frame will engage the rear end of the vehicle so frame and lift the rear wheels off the runways.

t. In an apparatus of the character described, a vehicle supporting frame, a support upon which said frame is pivoted intermediate its ends, and runways at opposite sides and terminating short of the front end of said frame, said frame being adapted as a vehicle travels over the runways to engage the vehicle frame and be rocked to remove the weight of the vehicle frame from its wheels.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, a vehicle supporting frame, a support upon which said frame is pivoted, runways at opposite sides and terminating short of the front end of said frame, said frame being adapted as a vehicle travels over the runways to be engaged by the vehicle frame and rocked to remove the weight of the vehicle frame from its wheels, and means for stopping the movement of the rocking frame in vehicle supporting position.

6. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a vehicle supporting frame, a support upon which said frame is pivoted, toggle mechanism for retaining said frame normally in inclined position, runways at opposite sides and terminating short of the upper end of said frame, and means carried by said frame for tripping said toggle mechanism, said means being located for engagement by a vehicle passing along the runways and supporting the front end of the vehicle until the front wheels are past the front ends of the runways before the said mechanism is tripped, the movement of said frame into horizontal position acting to lift the rear wheels off the runways.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a vehicle supporting frame, a sup port upon which said frame is pivoted intermediate its ends, inclined runways at opposite sides and terminating short of the upper end of said frame, means for retaining said frame normally in inclined position, and a slide carried by said frame and provided with connections for releasing said retaining means, said slide being adapted for engagement by a vehicle passing over the: runways and to support the vehicle until its front wheels are off the runways before releasing said retaining means to allow the frame to rock into horizontal position, the movement of said frame into the latter position acting to lift the rear wheels olf the runways.

,8. In an automatic vehicle jack, a vehicle supporting frame, a support upon which said frame is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, means for-retaining said frame normally in inclined position, runways at opposite sidesand terminating short of the upper end of said frame, means adapted to be operated by a vehicle moving over the runways for tripping said retaining means, means for locking said frame in inclined position against casual operation of the tripping means, and means operated by the moving vehicle for releasing said locking means prior to the operation of the tripping means;

9, Inan automatic vehicle jack, a vehicle supporting frame, a support upon which said frame is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends, means for retaining said frame normally in an inclined position, runways at opposite sides and terminating short of the upper end of said frame, means adapted to be operated by a vehicle moving over the runways for tripping said retaining means, a single means for raising said supporting frame into inclined position and looking it in said position against casual operation of the tripping means, and means adapted to be operated by the moving vehicle for releasing said locking means prior to the operation of the tripping means.

10. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a pair of track-ways and a frame between the track-ways and pivoted for movement in a vertical plane and normally sloping upward and forward, its forward end extending into position to be engaged by one of the axles of a motor car passing thereover; said frame being adapted to be rocked by downward pressure applied upon it forward of its pivotal point by a motor car run upon the track-ways and over the frame.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a pair of track-ways and a frame between the track-ways and pivoted for movement in a vertical plane and normally sloping upward and forward, its forward end extending'into position to be engaged by one of the axles of a motor car passing thereover; said frame being adapted to be rocked by downward pressure applied upon it forward of its pivotal point by a motor car run upon the track-ways and over the frame; means for locking the frame in its normal position, and means actuated by the car when over the frame for tripping the locking means.

'12. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a pair of track-ways, a frame between the track-ways and pivoted for movement in a vertical plane and normally sloping upward and forward, its forward end extending into position to be engaged by one of the axles of a motor car passing thereover; said frame being adapted to be rocked by downward pressure applied upon it forward of its pivotal point by a motor car run upon the track-ways and over the frame; means for locking the frame in its normal position, means actuated by the car when over the frame for tripping the locking means, a second means for locking the frame in normal position, and means actuated by the car to trip said second locking means prior to the tripping of the other locking means.

13. In a vehicle jack, a tilting frame, means for normally holding said frame in inclined position, means carried by said frame for engaging the axles of a vehicle moving over the frame, and means adapted to be engaged by one of said axles for tripping said holding means and allowing the frame to rock under the weight of the vehiole and thereby remove the weight of the vehicle from its wheels.

14:. In a vehicle jack, a tilting frame, means for holding said frame normally in inclined position, means carried by the frame for engaging the axles of a vehicle moving over the frame, means adapted to be engaged by one of the vehicle axles for tripping said holding means and allowing the frame to rock into horizontal position under the weight of the vehicle and thereby remove the weight of the vehicle from its wheels, and stop means for limiting the rocking movement of the frame after it has reached horizontal position.

15'. In a device of the character described, a bed frame, a tilting frame mounted on the bed frame, a toggle connection between the tilting frame and bed frame, means normally holding the toggle connection expanded and the tilting frame inclined upwardly and forwardly, and means for tripping said holding means to permit the tilting frame to tilt downward at its front end and upward at its rear end and effect the collapse or contraction of the toggle connection.

16. In a device of the character described, a tilting frame, means for normally holding it inclined upwardly and forwardly, runways spaced a greater distance apart than the width of the frame and extending alongside and terminating short of the front end of said frame, and means for tripping said holding means to permit the tilting frame to be tilted downward at its front end and upward at its rear end.

17. In a device of the character described,

a bed frame, a tilting frame mounted thereon, a toggle connection between the tilting frame and bed frame, a bracket rigid with the bed frame, a rod pivoted to the jointed portion of the-toggle connection, provided with a rearwardly-disposed shoulder engaging said bracket to hold the toggle expanded and the tilting frame inclined upwardly and forwardly, and means whereby said rod is tripped from engagement with said bracket to permit the front end of the tilting frame to be depressed and its rear end elevated.

18. In a device of the character described, a bed frame, a tilting frame mounted there on, a toggle connection between the tilting frame and the bed frame, means holding the toggle connection locked in expanded condition and holding the tilting frame inclined upwardly and forwardly, means for tripping the said locking means to permit the tilting frame to swing down at its front end and upward at its rear end and effect the collapse of the toggle, and means whereby the tilting frame may be tilted back to its original position to reexpand the toggle and cause the locking means thereof to lock it in such expanded condition.

19. In an apparatus of the character described, a vehicle supporting frame, a support upon which said frame is pivoted intermediate its ends, runways at opposite sides and terminating short of the front end of said frame, said frame being adapted as a vehicle travels over the runways to engage the vehicle frame and be rocked to remove the weight of the vehicle from its wheels, and means for tilting the pivoted frame back to original position.

20. In a device of the character specified, the combination of spaced inclines, an inter mediate tilting frame, means for normally holding the tilting frame in a given position, and a trip to be engaged by the vehicle for releasing the tilting frame from the supporting means.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS F. BONALY.

Witnesses:

CHAS. O. GERARD, G. Y. TI-IORPE.

@oplea of thia patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

